Q & A

Regular lawn maintenance can do wonders for your home’s curb appeal. Professional lawn care prices will vary based on the regional cost to do business and regional cost of labor, the size of your lawn, and any additional services you may desire such as edging or mulching. The national average for lawn mowing costs is $30-$50. Pros may charge an hourly rate, a flat rate or by the square foot (an acre contains 43,560 square feet). Square footage rates factor in the professional’s time, the use of their equipment, and the gas to operate the mower. Distance may also affect cost: If you live outside the company’s standard service range, you may pay an additional travel fee. Here are some examples of average prices for mowing and lawn maintenance:

The national price range for tree trimming is $270-$450. Tree trimming is often done by a professional arborist who is trained to safely trim and prune trees for both the health of the tree and the safety of the residents and their property. Trying to do your own tree trimming is not advisable unless you have the proper know-how. Tree trimming companies may charge an hourly rate for their services. The hourly rate may be higher or lower for different trees to reflect the relative safety measures, skill, equipment or people power needed to handle the job. For this reason, most tree services provide free estimates.

One example of an hourly rate for professional tree trimming services is $150 per hour. Costs may be under $100 or could be higher than $300 per hour, depending on variables such as proximity to buildings, health of the tree, height and diameter of the tree, and type of tree trimming desired. Geography and regional cost of living and regional costs to do business will also play a role in your tree removal costs.

Once you have a tree cut down, you’ll probably want to remove the tree stump as well. You may want the stump removed for aesthetics, the tree stump could be diseased, you might want to prevent regrowth, or you may find the roots are causing problems and need to be removed. Tree removal costs don’t always include the cost to grind out or dig out a tree stump after the tree has been felled and the trunk removed. The national average cost for stump removal ranges from $150 to $200. There are two main methods for dealing with tree stumps. In grinding, pros use a chipping machine to grind away the above-level tree stump until it sits just below the soil surface. Tree stump removal entails lifting the entire root ball of a tree out of the soil. Removing the stump will leave a hole in the ground and also take more time, labor and money than stump grinding. Here are some examples of average tree stump removal costs:

Stump grinding: $2-$4 per inch.

Tree stump removal: average of $60-$350.

The final price will depend on the stump’s size, condition, location and condition of the soil around it.

If you have to remove a big, beautiful tree from your property, you’ll definitely need an arborist. Cutting down a massive tree without the proper tools or training can lead to major property damage or injury. A huge tree may need to be removed if it is diseased or dying and poses a safety risk, has suffered a blow from a storm and isn’t safe, or is growing into your home, your home’s foundation, your septic system, or your power lines. Removal costs for such large trees will depend on the tree’s height, diameter, and relative safety and accessibility, as well as whether you also need the felled tree and stump removed. The bare minimum for removal of a tree over 75 or 80 feet would be $1,000. This may not include tree quartering and removal or stump grinding. Stump grinding ranges on average from $2 to $4 per inch of the stump’s diameter. There is no set price as each situation is unique, so it’s always best to have an arborist give you a quote and detail exactly which services are included in the price.

When you’re ready to have a tree on your property come down, it’s time to call an arborist. The national average price range for tree-trimming costs is $270-$450. Tree removal costs can vary based on the height, diameter, location and health of the tree, and on whether you want to remove the stump. Height plays a major role in tree removal costs. Small trees, no more than 30 feet tall, are usually thinner in diameter and easier and safer for an arborist to manage. Removal of a small tree can cost anywhere from under $150 to over $450. Removal of medium-height trees, from 30 feet to 60 feet tall, could cost anywhere between $150 and $850 or more. Tall trees, typically 60 feet to 80 feet tall, may start at $500 or cost more than $1,000 to cut down. As the height and diameter increase, so does the cost.

Location is critical, too. Removing a tree in an open space is quicker and presents fewer obstacles than removing a tree that is growing flush to your house. Arborists can assess your tree and provide you with quotes based on the variables involved. For example, removing a medium-size hackberry tree that was growing too close to a home — the roots were damaging the home’s foundation — cost $1,500. This price included rope-down, house protection, tree quartering and stacking, and stump removal.

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